Following a move initiated by Turkey, Northern Cyprus removed the twice-yearly DST changes in 2016, and changed its time zone to Turkey Time (TRT). This put the occupied territories of Northern Cyprus in a different time zone than the rest of Cyprus during the winter months.

Local Protests

The the decision by the Northern Cyprus government comes after protests from Turkish Cypriot teachers, reports the Cyprus Mail.

In December last year, 2 teenage girls and a bus driver were killed on their way to school in the dark, sparking demonstrations across the Mediterranean island.